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Response snapshot Nov 7, 2026, 20:21 UTC

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VulnerabilityCVE-2023-3961

A path traversal vulnerability was identified in Samba when processing client pipe names connecting to Unix domain sockets within a private directory.

A path traversal vulnerability was identified in Samba when processing client pipe names connecting to Unix domain sockets within a private directory.

At a glance

Exploited
Not known
Severity
9.1 Critical (CVSS 3.1)
Chance of exploitation
2.7% in the next 30 days
Sources
2 independent sources

What to do

Check the vendor advisory for affected versions and fixes.

Read NVD CVE-2023-3961 (opens a new tab)

What happened

A path traversal vulnerability was identified in Samba when processing client pipe names connecting to Unix domain sockets within a private directory. Samba typically uses this mechanism to connect SMB clients to remote procedure call (RPC) services like SAMR LSA or SPOOLSS, which Samba initiates on demand.

However, due to inadequate sanitization of incoming client pipe names, allowing a client to send a pipe name containing Unix directory traversal characters (../). This could result in SMB clients connecting as root to Unix domain sockets outside the private directory.

If an attacker or client managed to send a pipe name resolving to an external service using an existing Unix domain socket, it could potentially lead to unauthorized access to the service and consequential adverse events, including compromise or service crashes.

Scores and how they were measured

CVSS base severity

9.1

Version 3.1As of

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H

Measurement source (opens a new tab)

How bad it is if exploited. Not a prediction of exploitation or proof you are exposed.

EPSS probability

2.7%

Scored Percentile 85.9%

Model and measurement source (opens a new tab)

A model's estimate of exploitation in the next 30 days, not certainty or your own risk.

Related technology

Sources

  1. Primary source

    NVD CVE-2023-3961 (opens a new tab)

    NVD record: description, CVSS (the CNA score is preferred), affected products, and publication date. Not evidence of exploitation.

    Published Checked

  2. Primary source

    Vendor advisory (via NVD references) (opens a new tab)

    The vendor advisory referenced by the CVE record, for affected versions and fixes.

    Published Date not suppliedChecked

  3. Primary source

    NVD CVE API 2.0 (opens a new tab)

    The NVD API page that supplied this CVE record.

    Published Date not suppliedChecked

  4. Primary source

    NVD CVE API 2.0 (opens a new tab)

    The NVD API page that supplied this CVE record.

    Published Date not suppliedChecked

  5. Primary source

    NVD CVE API 2.0 (opens a new tab)

    The NVD API page that supplied this CVE record.

    Published Date not suppliedChecked

  6. Primary source

    FIRST measured EPSS score (opens a new tab)

    Measured EPSS probability and percentile for CVE-2023-3961, scored 2026-11-07. This is a model estimate, not proof of exposure.

    Published Checked

Cite this record

For factual claims, cite the primary sources above; cite KEVWire for its compilation, dates, and classifications.

APA

KEVWire. (2026, November 7). A path traversal vulnerability was identified in Samba when processing client pipe names connecting to Unix domain sockets within a private directory. (CVE-2023-3961). https://kevwire.com/record/CVE-2023-3961

MLA

"A path traversal vulnerability was identified in Samba when processing client pipe names connecting to Unix domain sockets within a private directory. (CVE-2023-3961)." KEVWire, 7 Nov. 2026, kevwire.com/record/CVE-2023-3961.

Chicago

KEVWire. "A path traversal vulnerability was identified in Samba when processing client pipe names connecting to Unix domain sockets within a private directory. (CVE-2023-3961)." Last modified November 7, 2026. https://kevwire.com/record/CVE-2023-3961.

Evidence summary (plain text)

A path traversal vulnerability was identified in Samba when processing client pipe names connecting to Unix domain sockets within a private directory. (Nov 3, 2023).
A path traversal vulnerability was identified in Samba when processing client pipe names connecting to Unix domain sockets within a private directory. Samba typically uses this mechanism to connect SMB clients to remote procedure call (RPC) services like SAMR LSA or SPOOLSS, which Samba initiates on demand. However, due to inadequate sanitization of incoming client pipe names, allowing a client to send a pipe name containing Unix directory traversal characters (../). This could result in SMB clients connecting as root to Unix domain sockets outside the private directory.
CVSS 9.1 (version 3.1; evidence as of Nov 7, 2026; https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-3961).
EPSS 2.7% for the following 30 days, scored Nov 7, 2026 (https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2023-3961&date=2026-11-07).
Sources:
NVD CVE-2023-3961: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-3961
Vendor advisory (via NVD references): https://www.samba.org/samba/security/CVE-2023-3961.html
NVD CVE API 2.0: https://services.nvd.nist.gov/rest/json/cves/2.0?lastModStartDate=2026-11-07T12:15:58.041Z&lastModEndDate=2026-11-07T13:45:58.587Z&resultsPerPage=500&startIndex=0
NVD CVE API 2.0: https://services.nvd.nist.gov/rest/json/cves/2.0?lastModStartDate=2026-11-07T11:35:57.434Z&lastModEndDate=2026-11-07T13:15:55.935Z&resultsPerPage=500&startIndex=0
NVD CVE API 2.0: https://services.nvd.nist.gov/rest/json/cves/2.0?lastModStartDate=2026-11-07T11:06:00.359Z&lastModEndDate=2026-11-07T12:35:55.950Z&resultsPerPage=500&startIndex=0
FIRST measured EPSS score: https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2023-3961&date=2026-11-07
Record ID: CVE-2023-3961.
Record origin: Ingested record.
AI evidence: Not assessed.
Known exploitation: Not assessed.
Zero-day status: Not assessed. KEV membership alone does not establish zero-day status.
About this data

This record was ingested from a data source. Retrieved: Nov 7, 2026, 20:21 UTC. Ingestion is not an independent editorial investigation.

NVD status: Modified. Publication in the NVD is not evidence of exploitation.

A CISA KEV listing documents known exploitation, not necessarily a zero-day; absence from the catalog does not prove a vulnerability has never been exploited.

Technology tags indicate possible relevance, not verified exposure. Confirm the affected product, version, and configuration against your own inventory; KEVWire does not scan your systems.

A personal reading checklist on this device, not verified remediation.

Record JSON

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Record details

Record detail